Cross Connection Control

Maintaining & Protecting Your Backflow Prevention Device

The primary objective of the Cross Connection Control Program is to protect the public potable water system at the service connection by containing within the consumer’s premises any actual or potential pollution or contamination which may result from backflow through cross connections.

The Cross Connection Control Program oversees and monitors the installation, testing and maintenance of approximately 10,000 backflow prevention assemblies currently within the Water Services area. Although it is the customer’s responsibility to test these devices annually and properly maintain their backflow prevention assemblies, the Cross Connection Control Program staff works closely with the Orange County Health Care Agency, the city’s Building Department, consultants and contractors to ensure that the proper backflow prevention assemblies are installed and are tested annually.

What is a Cross Connection?

Any actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a public or a consumer’s potable water system and any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce into any part of the potable system and used water, industrial fluid, gas, or substance other than the intended potable water with which the system is supplied. Some examples of cross connectors are:

• Bypass arrangements
• Jumper connections
• Removable sections
• Swivel or change-over devices
• Other temporary or permanent devices through which or because of which backflow can occur